Disconnect type of electric switch



June 29 1965 J. BERNATT ETAL 3,192,332

DISCONNECT TYPE OF ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 16, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 47721 A? Mers,

June 29, 1965 J. BERNATT Em. 3,192,332

DISGONNECT TYPE 0F ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 16, 1962 5 Sheets--SheetI 2 f HG2 June 29, 1965 J. BERNATT ETAL DISCONNECT TYPE OF ELECTRIC SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 16, 1962 United States Patent O 3,192,332 DISCNNECT TYPE F ELECTRIC SWITCH Joseph Bernatt, Elmhurst, and Oscar B. Alsaker, Bellwood, Ill., assignors to .lames R. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,549 10 Claims. ,(Cl. Zilli-48) This invention relates to improvements in a disconnect type of electric switch of the kind shown in the patent to Froland, 2,303,119, and more particularly to an enclosed shunt connection between the movable blade and the fixed part of the hinge mounting for the blade. It will be readily recognized that unless such a shunt is provided, the electric circuit would include the hinge bearings and the bearings on which the blade turns and that such bearings ordinarily offer poor contact area for heavy current loading. For this reason, a shunt connection has been used to carry the heavy current around the bearings of the mechanical joints in switches to improve the service life of the bearings and reduce the voltage drop. At rst pigtails of ilexible stranded wire were used, such as in Froland, but service conditions soon proved them not entirely satisfactory, and, as service conditions have a tendency to become more demanding and maintenance more costly, the standards for a marketable product rise. Consequently, it is now required that a product of this kind to be saleable must have `certain features to increase its efliciency and prolong its service free life. The instant invention has proved features which make it outstanding in these respects.

It is an object of this invention to provide a blade hinge structure for a switch with a shunt connection around the hinge structure which is fully enclosed to provide a weather proof construction for protection against oxidation whereby maintenance is reduced.

It is another object of this invention -to provide a blade hinge structure for a switch with a separate electrical shunt which avoids current transfer function in the mechanical bearings for the hinge.

It is another object of this invention to provide a blade hinge structure of a switch with an electrical shunt connection separate from the hinge and which provides for astraight line current path without oisets which will set up magnetic forces tending to relieve contact pressure.

It is another object of this invention to provide a blade hinge structure of a switch with a separate electric shunt connection providing an electrical configuration that will increase contact pressure with increases in current or load.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combined blade hinge structure and a rotary blade mounting structure for a switch to connect the blade directly with a stationary conducting part of the hinge mounting,

f which shunt connection is fully enclosed and protected.

It is another object of this invention to provide a combined blade hinge structure and separate electric shunt connection between the switch blade and a stationary conducting part of the hinge mounting which is fully enclosed and constructed to function separately without interference to hinge movement.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a combined blade hinge structure and rotary blade mounting for a switch with a separate electric shunt to connect theblade directly with a stationary conducting part f the hinge mounting, which shunt is fully enclosed and protected and is capable of full floating or self-centering action to function separately without interference with, or interference from, the hinge or blade movement in its mechanical bearings.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description which is in such full, clear `and exact terms as will enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the same when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, and in which:

FIG. l is an environmental view in side elevationof one form of disconnect switch to which this invention is applicable;

FIG. 2` is a top view with parts broken away and in section of the blade hinge construction shown in FIG. 1 and illustrated in FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the hinge shown in FIG. l with parts broken away .and in section illustrating the blade hinge structure on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view illustrating the housing shown in FIG. l on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view partly in section of the housing shown in FIG. 4; Y

FIG. 6 is an' exploded view in top planwith parts in section illustrating the parts forming the electric shunt connection for the blade hinge shown in FIG. 2; y

FIG. 7 is a front view of the blade contact part of the shunt connection shown in top plan in FIG. 6; ,A

FIG. 8 is a view in elevation illustrating the outer end of the hinge contact trunnion of thehinge shown in FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale;

. FIG. 9 is a view in elevation of the inner end of the v trunnion shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view partly in section illustrating the castle type threaded plug for holding the blade of the switch; and

FIG. 1l is a fragmentary view, partly in section taken on the line 11-11 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the above briefly described Ifigures of the drawing and FIG. 1 in particular, the disconnect switch elements shown include a base lof channel iron of suitable dimensions. Bolted to the channel iron 1 at spaced points are a pair of brackets 2 and 3 secured to the channel iron by bolts 4 and 5, respectively. Each of these brackets in turn supports an insulator member, such as 6 and 7, held to the topof Vthe brackets 2 and 3, respectively, by fastening means 8 and 9. At the top end of the insulator I6 is a tting 12 secured thereto by suitable bolts, not shown. This fitting includes a terminal extension 14, the upper side of which is recessed at 16 and provided with bolt holes to receive, and a means to secure, a conductor between a clamping plate and terminal 14. The iitting 12 also has bolted thereto a pair of spaced spring type contacts 24 secured in place by bolts 26. These spring type fixed contacts are biased in a direction toward one another so as to clamp the movable end of a switch blade, such as 29, all in a well known manner. Both contacts are identical and the free ends thereof are bent upon themselves in the form of a U so as to provide a slot into which the end 36 of the movable blade 29 is wedgingly engaged. The fitting 12 also carries a small extension 38 mounting a stop screw 4i? which limits the movement of the end 36 of the switch blade 29 in a switch closing direction.

The insulator 7 carries a bracket 11 by means of a pair .of struts, such as 13, integral with a circular base 15 which is in turn secured to the top of the insulator 7 by bolts, such as 16. Struts 13 extend upwardly from the base 1S to a pair of hollow boss members 23 and 25, respectively. From this view, it will be apparent that the bracket 11 forms the stationary support for the hinge bearings mounting the switch blade 29 of the disconnect switch mechanism. Also'referring to FIG. l, the bracket 11 carries a small extension projecting horizontally therefrom which has a threaded aperture to receive a stop i Vll) turning with-the shaft 50 and limits screw 33 locked in position by a suitable stop nut. Whereas, the two insulators 6 and-7 heretofore described are mounted on fixed mountings in a fixed position with respectto the base 1, nevertheless, the base or the mountings can inverted position. This is likewise true'of the insulator 4o,

which is supported on a flange 46 rotatable with the vertically mounted shaftSl). .Bolts d'attach'the insulator -to theY flange. Shaft 50 is rotatably mounted in a bear- ,ing support member 52 secured tothe .channel member 1 by bolts 54 and 56. Bolt 56 also anchors in position a bracket 57 carrying an adjustable stop bolt 59. The stop bolt 59 is aligned with the end of a short arm 69 (FIG.

i the rotary motion of the shaft 50 in one direction. One endof the shaft 50 projects below the base 1 and has a projecting end 61.k Any form of actuating linkage may be connected to end 61 to turn the shaft 5b. At the top of the insulator 45 is a crank 64 suitably secured by a plurality of bolts, such as 66 and 67, to the upper end of the insulatorAS, The end of crank 64 is pinned to a clevis 69 -which is rotatable within a boss of forked bracket 7 0. The branched arms of the bracket '70, .indicated as 72 and 74, straddle the upper ends 76 of a control arm rigidly secured to thel switch blade 29. A pin 75 forms the Arotatable connector between the spaced arms 72 and 74 of theV bracket 70 andthe control arm 76. Control arm 76 is formed as a part of a sleeve 78 through which the switch blade passes, which sleeve is secured in place by a .bolt 79. Crank 64 hasa bearing part, indicated generally as 80,

journalled in an aperture within a bracket 82. On the upper surface of the bracket 82 is ajrecess 84 with suitable bolt holes S and 86. The bracket 82 forms the other terminal to receive the other ,conductor which rcan be secured in the lrecess 84 by a suitable clamp held against the bracket 82 by bolts passing through the apertures S5 and 86. This description so far has been confined to the basic elements of a known type of'switch of the type in which the contact arm, or blade, 29 can pivot both on its own axis and on a hinge mounting during its opening and closing action. Thishinge mounting, to be hereinafter described in detail, includesV both mechanical parts supporting the v.switch blade 29 for the aforesaid motion and also electrically connected parts, herein termed a shunt, forming an electrical connection between the blade 29 and the bracket 11.

Turning nowV to FIGS. 2 and 3, the bosses 23 and 25 supported by the struts 13 and bracket 11 are hollow and receive therein trunnions 90 and 91. Trunnion 90 `is mounted in the boss 23 and trunnion 91 in the boss 25.

These trunnions are shown in detail in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9. Since both are identical, only one willbe described. The trunnion 90 in FIG. 8 is'provided with a threaded bore 93 extending inwardly of the trunnion from its outer end.

This portion of trunnion 9) containing bore 93 has a extension from the trunnion 90. At the outer ends of these concentricallyV arranged fingers are circumferential vgrooves 16d and 101 to receive separate garter springs. r

FIG. 6 shows a tapered plug 103 provided on its exterior with a tapered pipe thread and at its outer end with a socket 104 to receive a wrench. The threads 105 -are sized to mate with the threads in the socket 93 of the trunnion 9d. Returning now to FIG. 2,'the trunnion @il is placed within the hollow boss 23 and anchored therein by the expanding action of the threaded plug 103 in the socket 9d of the trunnion, which, when screwed in by a suitable wrench engaging the socket 104, causes the fingers be reversed so that the switch is mounted in ariY V solidly in theboss 23. The boss is also fitted with .wise movement.

trunnion 91 in the same manner. The bearing portion 96 of the trunnions 9d and 91'fornis the Vsupport for the hinge structure supporting the blade 29. y

rfhere is provided a tubular housing 119, best shown in FGS. 4 and 5. The tubular housing 110 has a pair of radial extensions 112 and '114, both jof which'are provided'with hinge bearings on. the internal surfaces 116 arid 117 located internally-of kthe radial extensions 112 and 11d. One ofV these radial extensions has formed integrally therewith a stop linger 11? On the tubular housing 11d are a pair of bearing surfaces 119and 12) for the rotatable support of the blade.

Returning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the tubular housing i has its radial extensions 112 and 114 journalled on the bearingV part 96 of each trunnion gil and .91. Surfaces 115V and 117 forni bearing parts for the hinge. Thus, thehousing 11d is. free lto swing in one direction towards switch closing position an amount permitted by the stop screw d@ and inthe switch opening direction to a position fixed by contact between-the stop finger 113 and the stop screw 33.

As heretofore mentioned, `the sleeve 78 is fixed to the blade 29, land, this sleeve in turn has a cylindrical bearing surface l122 which Vextendsinto the housing :110 and is journalled/-on the cylindrical bea-ring surface 119.

Turn-ing now to FEGS. 2 and l0, the castle type thread- `ed plug 125 has a cylindrical extension 131B diinensioned to forni a bearing support on the bearing surface 12d of the housing 111i. A flange 128 yhas .a Vradial part wh-ich labuts the face ofthe bearing i and prevents end- Gn the flange 123 is;y a bevelled face 129 with a cone angle of aboutV 30 andthe projecting hexagonal crown V1226 is provided with slots, fall in a conventional manner. t

Return-ing now to FlGS. 2 tand 3, the blade 23 clamped in the collar 78 is supported forrotation on the bearing part 122 within the housing 11d. The endof the blade 29j is threaded to receive the castle-nut 125 which also has a bear-ing .surface 131B, heretofore described, supported within the bearing surface 120 of the housing 110. The castleV nut is locked in .place by a bolt 135 projecting through radial-slots in the crown of the castle nuts 125 and through :aligned holes in the tubular blade 29. Thus-the mechanical hinge for the bladey 29 n is formed by the Yhousing member 111B pivota-lly sup- Vsealed at these bearing points by a plurality of separate O-i'ings.V The rings-137Y ari-c1133 seal the joint between the housing 110 and the bosses 23 and 25. TheO-rings 139 andi@ seal the joint between the housing and its rotatable'journals for lthe blade 29. From what has been l:heretofore described, it will be recognized that the housscribed, the trunnions 93 andS1 carry fa .plurality of ing 1110 form-s Vthe movable part of the hinge structure, while the bosses 23 and 2S forni theA fixed mounting, or support, for the hiiigestructure. The hou-sing 11@ also fornisthe rotatable bearing for the blade 25?., VThese are the mechanical connections kwhich permit the blade to V:hinge with Vrespect, to the lswitch and for the blade 29 to rot-atek axially `to release its beaver tail end 16) from between the iixed contacts 243 of .the switch. This mechanical connection for the hinge and the blade is en tirely separate from, and isolated from, any current carrying function. T he current carrying function from the blade 29 to the bracket 11 carrying the termin-al 84 is entirely separate frointhe mechanical connectionaiid enclosed within the housing 11?. As heretofore deconcentrically arranged Contact fingers, or brushes, 99, and

the current transfer from the brack 11 is directly to the the trunnions 9i) and 91 which are stationary within the bosses 23 and 2S. Plugs 103; produce an expanding actrunnions 90 'and 91.

duce maintenance.

' able operating linkage.

tion on the portions 95 of the trunnions, expanding these radial fingers so as to form a high pressure connection between the interior of the bosses 23 and 25 and the exterior of the resilient portions 95 of the trunnions 9d and 91. As will be seen from inspection of FIGS. 2 and 3, the electric current p-ath is from the trunnion's to the fingers or brushes 99 and from there to a fitting 145. This fitting is better shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Turning now to these latter mentioned figures, the fitting 145 is a hollow sleeve, or tubular sleeve, of la size to rotatably receive the end of the blade 29. The tting has a collar 148 and integrally connected brushes, or fingers, 149 -which `are .arranged -concentrically of the blade 29. The endsV of the fingers 149 are -grooved at 159 and 151 so as toreceive a pair of garter springs. Projecting radially from the collar 148 are a -pair of cylindrical pins 153 and 154 which have an outs-ide dimension of a size to be slidably aand rotatably received within the fingers 99 on the Returning now to the views in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fitting 145 is telescoped over the fend of the blade 29 with ,its fingers 149 projecting into the tubular housing 110 adjacent the fixed collar 7S. The fingers 149 are held in snug engagement with the exterior of the blade surface by a pair of garter springs `155 received in the grooves 150 and 151. These springs resiliently force the brushes, or fingers, 149 into engagement with the -exterior of the tubular blade 29 forming a firm velectric contact therewith. If desired, the exterior of the4 blade 29 at the point of contract mentioned may be Vprovided with :a contact ring of conducting material upon which the fingers 149 may bear. The springs `155 .produce a high pressure contact between the inside of the ngers l149 and the area on the blade 29 opposed thereto. Similarly, the pins .153 and 154 are received Within the fiexible fingers, or brushes, 99 of the trunnions 90 and 91, and these fingers are urged into high pressure contact with the .pins by pairs of garter springs 156 and ,157. Thus, the path of current fiow is through the bracket 11 into the trunnions 99, fingers 99, pin-s 153 and 154,

lingers 149 and blade 29. This forms the shunt connection between the blade .and the bracket 11 which will ycarry the electric current. This shunt connection, just described, is entirely separate from the mechanical bearing support for the blade. It is a straight line connection `and one in -which magnetic forces due to heavy current merely cause the fingers, or brushes, 99 land 149 to grasp their contact surfaces more firmly, thus, increasing the efficiency of this electric connection. The shunt connection itself is entirely enclosed Within the tubular housing 1.10 and 4its radial extensions, it, therefore, may be treated with corrosion inhibiting substance sealed within lthe housing 110. This hou-sing forms a weatherproof construction to eliminate con-tact oxidation and re- The shunt connection itself is one which Will provide full contact regardless of blade position. Magnetic forces would not act in -this shunt contract to relieve contact pressure, but on the other hand magnetic forces, if present, would tend to increase contact pressure. In Ithis shunt connection, the blade 29 may not only rotate ywith respect to the fitting 145, but it is also possible for the fitting 145 to adjust'its position llengthwise of the blade so as to accommodate its position with any eccentricity in the mechanical bearing support for the hinge. It is also la feature of this shunt connection that the pins |153 and 154 cannot only rotate Within the fingers, or brushes, 99, but yalso slide endwise therein.` These two features of the shunt connection provide for a .self-centering laction, or full fioating connection, which cannot bind land restrict the operation of the mechanical bearing support for the blade 29. y

The switch is operated through the fitting 61 by any suitf the switch is closed and it is desired to open it, the linkage is moved to rotate the fitting 61'and crank 64. This in turn will twist the blade 29 to a position where the pressure of contacts Z4 is relieved from the edges of the beaver tail 160. During this movement, contact is maintained through the shunt by the action of the brushes, or fingers, on the fitting 145 which are held firmly in contact with the ou-ter surface of the blade 29 as it rotates in its bearings 122 and 120. Further rotation of the crank 64 by the tting 61 swings the blade 29 vertically about its hinge bearings 1.16 and 117 in the housing 110. During this movement, the shunt contact is maintained by the fingers 99 gripping thepins 153 and 154. At no time will there be a substantial current flow through the mechanical bearings -of the hinge, or the blade, since the shunt connection within the housing is effective continuously during any blade movement. The surfaces of the blade adjacent the fingers 149 and the surfaces of the pins 153 and 154 adjacent the fingers 99 yand gripped thereby are maintained free .of corrosion with an inhibitor grease. Leakage into the housing 110 is resisted -by the O-rings 137, 138, 139 and 140. Closing of the switch is effected by reverse movement of 'the crank 64 which produces a reverse sequence of operation in the blade 29.

Changes in and modifications of the construction described may be rn'ade without departing from the spirit of our invention'or sacrificing i-ts advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a disconnect type of electric switch having in combination, (l) a fixed oon-tact, (2) a switch blade, and (3) =a housing enclosing `one end of sa-id switch blade and rotatably mounted on a fixedl bearing part on said switch which projects into said housing to form a hinge 4upon which said housing and blade .are free to swing to move the other end of said switch blade into and out of contact With said fixed contact and in which said blade is journalled for rotation about its axis, the improvement in said combination comprising, Y

(a) an electrical shunt connection between said blade and said fixed bearing part within said housing incluling electric conductor means, one of which has a plurality of cylindrically arranged spring biased fingers and the other of which is a pin gripped in said fingers and axially and rotatably movable in said fingers, said means being substantially coaxial with said hinge and in said housing and one of said means being separately and slidably connected with said blade for relative rotary movement with said blade as said blade swings and relative axial movement on said blade to 4obtain a self-centering action between said pin and said fingers as said blade swings on said hinge.

2. In a disconnect .type of electric swit-ch having in combina-tion, (l) a fixed contact, (2) a switch blade, and (3) a housing enclosing one end of said switch blade and a rotatable mounting on a fixed bearing part on said switch which projects into said housing to form a hinge upon which said housing and blade are free to swing to move the other end of said switch blade into, and out of, contact with said fixed contact and in which said blade is journalled for rotation about its axis, the improvement in said combination comprising,

(a) an electrical shunt connection between said blade and said fixed bearing part within said housing including electric conductor means one of which has a rotatable electric connection with said mounting movable in a direction at right angles to said blade and the other of which has a rotatable electric connection with said blade in which said blade is rotatable and axially movable in a direction at right angles to said hinge between said fixed bearing part and said housing to form a `self-centering connection between said electric conductor means and said m-ounting as said blade 'swings on said hinge.

3. Ina disconnect type of electric switch having a fixed contact, a movable blade mounted to swing into and out of contact with said fixed contact, a mounting for said movable blade, and a hinged connection between said said coaxial spaced bearing surfaces Eto form a rn-- f chanical hinged connection between said blade and .said mounting,

(e) and an electrical shunt connection between'said blade and said hinge partincluding electric conductor means one .of which has a plurality of cylindrically arranged flexible ngers and the other of which is a pin gripped by said fingers and axially and rotatably movable in said fingers, said means being substantially coaxial with saidbearing surfaces of saidhinge part and one of said means being separately and slidably connected with said blade for relative rotary movement with Said blade as said' blade swings and for relative axial movement on said blade to formY a self-centering connection between said pinand fingers g as said blade swings on said hinge part. 4. In a disconnect type of electric switch having a fixed Contact, a movable blade mounted to swing into and out of engagement with said fixed Contact, a mounting for said blade, and a hinge connection between said bladeand said mounting, the improvement in said hinge connection cornprising, l i

(a) a relatively stationary hinge part with coaxial spaced separate bearing surfaces removably lixed in ISaid mounting,

A(b) a generally tubular hinge part forming a housing ext-ending at right angles to the coaxial spaced bearing surfaces and enclosing a portion of said hinge part,

(c) spaced bearings -on said tubular housing for rotatably supporting said switch blade with a pontion enclosed within lsaid tubular housing,

(d) bea-ring parts on said tubular housing journalledV on saidseparate bearing surfaces to form a mechanical hinge connection .between said blade and said mounting,

l(e) yand an electrical shunt connection between said blade and said stationary hinge part within said housing including electric conductor means one of which has a plurality of cylindrically arranged spring biased fingers and the other of which is a pin gripped in said fingers kand axially and rotatably movable in said iingers, said means being substantially -coaxiaily with said fixed bearing surfaces and one of said meansbeing separately and `slidably.'connected with said blade forrelative rotary movement with said blade as said blade swings and relative Vaxial movement on said blade to form a. self-centering connection between said meansr as said blade swings on said hinged con nection 5. In a disconnect type Vof electric switch having a;

fixed contact, a movable blade mounted to swing into and out of engagement with saidixed contact,'a mounting for said blade and a hinge connection between said blade and said mounting, the improvement in said hinged connection comprising,

(a) a relatively stationary'hinge partkwith coaxial` spaced, separate bearing surfaces removably. fixed in said mounting,

(b) a generally tubular hinge part forming a housing,

(c) spaced bearings on .said tubular housing for rotatably supporting said switch blade with a portion enclosed within said tubular housing,

(d) bearing parts within said'tubular housing journalled on said coaxial,'spaced-'separate bearing Vsurfaces to form a mechanical hinge connection for said blade and housing on said mounting,

(c)V and an electrical shunt connection between said blade and said stationary hinge part within said housing including electric conductor means having a r0- tatable electric connection with said mounting'rnovable in a direction at right anglesv to said blade and a plurality of concentrically arranged spring biased fingers surrounding and grippingV saidkbladein which said blade is rotatableand axially movable in a direction at right angles to said stationaryfhinge to form a self-centering connection between said electric conductor meansrand said mounting as Vsaid blade swings on said stationary hinge.

6. In a disconnecttype of electric switch having a xed contact, a movable. blade mounted to .swing into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, amounting for said blade, and a hinged connection between said blade and said mounting, the improvement in Said hinge connection comprising, Y

(a) relatively stationary trunnions with coaxial spaced separate bearing surfaces removably ,fixed in said 1nounting,1 n v (b) a .generally tubular hinge Y'part 'forming a housing extending at right angles tothe axis of said trunnions and enclosing a portion thereof, K

(c) spaced bearings` in Vsaid tubularV housing for rotatably supporting said switch blade with a portion enclosed within said tubular housing, g

(d) bearing parts in said tubular `housing journalled on said trunnions to form a mechanicalhinge connection bet een said blade andV said mounting,

(e) and an electrical shunt connection between said blade andV said trunnions within said housing including electric conductor means one of which has a plurality of cylindrically arranged spring biased iingers and the other of whichis a pin gripped by said fingers and axially rand rotatably movable in said ngers, said means 'being one of saidV means being substantially coaxially with said trunnions and separately and siidably connected with said blade for relative rotary movement witasaidblade as said blade `swings and. relative axial movement on said blade to form a seit-centering vconnection between said means as said blade swings on said Vhinge connection. Y

7. In a disconnect type of electric switch having a iixed contact, a movable blade mounted to swing into and out ot` engagement with said iixed contact, a mounting for said blade and a hinge connection between said blade and said mounting, the improvement in said hinge connection comprising, Y

(a) relatively stationary trunnions with coaxial. spaced, separate, bearing surfaces removably fixed-in said mounting, 4 i

(b) a generally tubular'hiuge part forming `a housing Vextending at rightk angles to the .coaxially spaced trunnioris and enclosing a portion ofsaid trunnions,

(c) spaced bearings in vsaid tubular housing for rotatably supporting said switch blade with a portion enclosed withinV said tubulaiihousing,

(d) bearing-.parts in said tubularrhousing journalled on said trunnions to. forma mechanical-hinge connection for said blade and housing on said mounting,

(e) and an electrical shunt connection between said blade and said trunnions within said housing including electric conductor means one of which has a rotatable electric connection with said mountingmovable in a direction at right angles to said blade and the other of which has a plurality of concentrically arranged spring biased iingers surrounding andy gripping said blade in ywhich said blade is-rotatable and also axially movable in a direction at right angles to said hinge connection to .form .Va Seli-centering connection between said electric conductor means and said mounting as said blade swings on said hinge connection. i

blade and said mounting, the improvement in said hinge connection comprising,

- (a) spaced, coaxial, hollow boss parts on said mount- (b) relatively stationary trunnions with hollow expansible and contractible end portions slidable into said hollow boss parts on said mounting,

(c) plug means adapted to expand said hollow expansible end portions in said hollow boss parts to obtain a high pressure electrical connection between said hollow boss parts and said trunnions,

(d) a generally tubular hinge part forming a housing extending at right angles to said trunnions and enclosing a portion of said trunnions,

(e) spaced bearings in said tubular housing for rotatably supporting said switch blade with a portion enclosed within said tubular housing,

(f) bearing parts in said tubular housing journalled on said trunnions to form a mechanical hinge connection for said blade and housing on said mounting enclosing an expansible contractible portion of said trunnions,

(g) and an electrical shunt connection between said blade and said mounting within said housing including electric conductor means one of which has a plurality of cylindrically arranged spring biased iingers formed by the expansible contractible portion of said trunnions enclosed in said housing and the other of which is a pin gripped by said fingers and axially and rotatably movable in said fingers, said means being substantially coaxially with said trunnions and one of said means being separately and slidably connected with said blade for relative rotary movement with said blade as said blade swings and relative axial movement on said blade to form a self-centering connection between said means as said blade swings on said hinge connection.

9. In a disconnect type of electric switch having a fixed contact, a movable blade mounted to swing into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, a mounting for said blade, and a hinge connection between said blade and said mounting, the improvement in said hinge connection comprising,

(a) spaced, coaxial, hollow boss parts on said mounting,

(b) relatively stationary trunnions with hollow expansible and contractible end portions slidable into said hollow boss parts on said mounting,

(c) plug means adapted to expand said hollow expansible end portions in said hollow boss parts to obtain a high pressure electric connection between said hollow boss parts and said trunnions,

(d) a generally tubular hinge part forming a housing extending at right angles to said trunnions and enenclosing a portion of said trunnions,

(e) spaced bearings on said tubular housing for rotatably supporting said switch blade with a portion enclosed within said tubular housing,

(f) bearing parts in said tubular housing journalled on said trunnions to form a mechanical hinge connection for said blade and housing on said mounting enclosl@ ing an expansible contractible portion of said trunnions, (g) and an electrical shunt connection between said blade and said mounting within said housing including electric conductor means, one of which has a rotatable electric connection with said mounting movable in a direction at right :angles to said blade and the other of which has a rotatable electric connection With said blade in which said blade is rotatable and axially movable in a direction at right angles to said hinge connection to form a self-centering connection between said electric conductor means and said mounting as said blade swings on said hinge connection. l0. In a disconnect type of electric switch having a xed contact, a movable blade mounted to swing into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, a mounting for said blade, and a hinge connection between said blade and said mounting, the improvement in said hinge connection comprising,

(a) spaced, coaxial, hollow boss parts on said mount- (b) relatively stationary trunnions with hollow expansible and contractible end portions slidable into said hollow boss parts on said mounting,

(c) plug means adapted to expand said hollow expansible end portions in said hollow boss parts to obtain `a high pressure electric connection between said hollow boss parts and said trunnions,

(d) a generally tubular hinge part forming a housing extending at right angles to said trunnions and enclosing a portion thereof,

(e) spaced bearings in said tubular housing for rotatably supporting said switch blade with a portion enclosed within said tubular housing,

(f) bearing parts in said tubular housing journalled on said trunnions to form a mechanical hinge conn nection for said blade and housing on said mounting and enclosing an expansible contractible portion of said trunnions,

(g) and an electrical shunt connection between said blade and said mounting within said housing including electrical conductor means, one of which has a plurality of concentrically arranged spring biased fingers formed by the expansible contractible portion of said trunnions and the other of which has a plurality of concentrically arranged spring biased fingers surrounding and gripping said blade in which said blade is rotatably and axially movable in a direction at right angles to said hinge connection, oppositely extending pins integral with said last-mentioned spring biased fingers gripped by the ngers on said trunnions and axially and rotatably movable in said fingers to form a self-centering connection between said blade and mounting as said blade swings on said hinge connection.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,673,902 3/54 Heberlein 200-48 2,734,955 2/56 Owens 20G-48 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFEIcE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,192,332 June Z9, 1965 Joseph Bernatt et al.

Column 8, line 37, strike out "one of said means being" and insert the same after "and" in line 38, same Column 8.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of March 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A DISCONNECT TYPE OF ELECTRIC SWITCH HAVING IN COMBINATION, (1) A FIXED CONTACT, (2) A SWITCH BLADE, AND (3) A HOUSING ENCLOSING ONE END OF SAID SWITCH BLADE AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON A FIXED BEARING PART ON SAID SWITCH WHICH PROJECTS INTO SAID HOUSING TO FORM A HINGE UPON WHICH SAID HOUSING AND BLADE ARE FREE TO SWING TO MOVE THE OTHER END OF SAID SWITCH BLADE INTO AND OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID FIXED CONTACT AND IN WHICH SAID BLADE IS JOURNALLED FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS, THE IMPROVEMENT IN SAID COMBINATION COMPRISING, (A) AN ELECTRICAL SHUNT CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID BLADE AND SAID FIXED BEARING PART WITHIN SAID HOUSING INCLUDING ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR MEANS, ONE OF WHICH HAS A PLURALITY OF CYLINDRICALLY ARRANGED SPRING BIASED FINGERS AND THE OTHER OF WHICH IS PIN GRIPPED IN SAID FINERS AND AXIALLY AND ROTATABLY MOVABLE IN SAID FINGERS, SAID MEANS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH SAID HINGE AND IN SAID HOUSING AND ONE OF SAID MEANS BEING SEPARATELY AND SLIDABLY CONNECTED WITH SAID BLADE FOR RELATIVE ROTARY MOVEMENT WITH SAID BLADE AS SAID BLADE SWINGS AND RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT ON SAID BLADE TO OBTAIN A SELF-CENTERING ACTION BETWEEN SAID PIN AND SAID FINGERS AS SAID BLADE SWINGS ON SAID HINGE. 